For this World Series, Houston has an oversized replica of an old-time locomotive simply known as "The Train" that moves along a track about 90 feet above left field when the hometown Astros hit a home run or win a game.

The train has been there for years, probably since the ballpark opened.

Ron Santo thought the train was carrying a load of pumpkins. Pat Hughes said something like "No, Ron, this is Minute Maid Park. Those are oranges".

Explanation: I admit being caught up in the excitement of Mark McGwire and Sosa beating Roger Marisí 61 in 61 as much as anyone in 1998, but both cheated their way to breaking the single-season home run record. I never voted for McGwire, who has been off the ballot for two years after 10 misses, and I never voted for Sosa, who hasnít come close to getting in (probably because heís a double cheater as a guy who also was caught using a corked bat).

Great Kerry Wood story by MLB.com's Joe Posnanski that includes video highlights of his 20 K game and his final appearance at Wrigley

Quote

My favorite part of the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot is that it offers a chance to remember not just the great players, but some of the good ones, too. As we begin our daily player-by-player breakdown of the 33 names on the Hall of Fame ballot -- which will take us all the way to election day on Jan. 24 -- let's go back to May 6, 1998, and a 20-year-old kid making his fifth Major League start.

Eric Chesterton makes a case for Carlos Zambrano being elected to the Hall Of Fame.

Who is he? - Eric Chesterton writes about the Philadelphia Phillies for Today's Knuckleball. He also writes for SB Nation's The Good Phight. He lives in Ardmore, Pennsylvania and can be found on Twitter @CF_Larue.

I hope he does not have a vote as here are his reasons:

Tied for seventh all-time for home runs by a pitcherHe was an early and avid internet userHe always wanted to stay in the gameHe threw the only neutral site no-hitter in MLB historyHe can probably still pitch today